TAKING FISH AT WEIRS. 
253 
to do anything when food is so abundant, and lie 
basking under the trees in luxurious indolence, 
whilst their wives, mothers, or sisters are engaged in 
cooking for them. 
An unlimited supply of fish is also procurable at 
the Murray about the beginning of December, when 
the floods, having attained their greatest height, 
begin again to recede ; and when the waters, which 
had been thrown by the back water channels of the 
river into the flats behind its banks, begin again to 
reflow through them into the river as it falls in 
height. At this time the natives repair to these 
channels, and making a weir across them with 
stakes and grass interwoven, leave only one or two 
small openings for the stream to pass through. To 
these they attach bag nets, which receive all the 
fish that attempt to re-enter the river. The number 
procured in this way in a few hours is incredible. 
Large bodies of natives depend upon these weirs 
for their sole subsistence, for some time after the 
waters have commenced to recede. 
Another very favourite article of food, and equally 
abundant at a particular season of the year, in the 
eastern portion of the continent, is a species of moth 
which the natives procure from the cavities and 
hollows of the mountains in certain localities. This, 
when roasted, has something of the appearance and 
flavour of an almond badly peeled. It is called in 
the dialect of the district, where I met with it, 
Booguon. The natives are never so well con-- 
